HCMC – Traffic accidents during Vietnam’s nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in 2026 fell by nearly 30% from a year earlier, with 381 cases, 230 deaths, and 274 injuries, according to the Traffic Police Department.
The number of accidents declined by 154 cases, or 28.8%, compared to Tet 2025. Fatalities fell by 73, or 23.2%, while injuries dropped by 118, or 30.1%.
Road accidents accounted for most cases, with 378 incidents, 224 deaths, and 274 injuries. Compared to the previous year, road accidents fell by 28.7%, fatalities dropped by 25.3%, and injuries declined by 29.9%.
Railways recorded one accident and one death, down from three cases and two deaths a year earlier.
Waterway accidents totaled two cases, leaving five people dead and five missing. Fatalities and missing persons increased from the previous holiday. One accident on the Gianh River in Quang Tri Province left four people dead. Another collision on Thac Ba Lake in Lao Cai Province left one person dead and five missing.
Traffic volume on expressways increased during the holiday period. More than 5.26 million vehicle trips entered expressways managed by the Traffic Police Department, up nearly 750,000 from the previous year. Nearly 5.4 million vehicles exited expressways, up more than 777,000.
Traffic police handled 76,374 violations nationwide during the holiday. Authorities revoked 2,473 driver’s licenses and professional certificates and deducted points from 16,095 licenses. Police also temporarily seized 747 cars, 26,742 motorcycles, and 1,062 other vehicles.
Alcohol-related violations totaled 26,337 cases, surging 53.5% from the previous year. Speeding violations reached 15,728 cases, up 18.3%. Police also identified 34 drug-positive drivers and 64 overloaded or oversized vehicles.
